NEW ORLEANS — Tight end Vernon Davis managed just one catch, and managed to cause a dustup in doing so.

He bounced up after his 19-yard grab in the fourth quarter and shouted toward the coaches on the 49ers’ sideline. It did not go over well.

“He got a little excited, yes he did, and I told him to sit down,” Coach Mike Nolan told analyst Gary Plummer on the postgame radio show.

Davis, always eager to be part of the game plan, was almost invisible during the 31-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. His lone catch came with 6 minutes, 20 seconds to play and the game already out of hand at 28-9.

Davis had talked excitedly during the week about being more in sync with quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan. But his production has yet to match. He has only two catches over the past three games.

Davis dressed quickly and did not talk to reporters after Sunday’s game.

Deuce McAllister was a big fan of 49ers running back Roger Craig. The feeling is apparently mutual. Craig called the Saints runner after Sunday’s game to congratulate him on his comeback from knee surgery.

McAllister and Craig have the same agent and have become friends. McAllister earned the admiration of his childhood idol by running for 73 yards against the 49ers.

McAllister, 29, had his left knee surgically repaired last fall.

The 49ers did a good job of containing Reggie Bush – maybe too good. All the attention on the dynamic running back might have opened the door for players such as McAllister and receivers Lance Moore and Robert Meachem to have big games.

49ers players disputed that notion, saying their game plan included plenty of respect for the Saints’ other threats.

“What it boils down to is that there are no excuses,” linebacker Patrick Willis said. “We have better football inside of us.”

Bush, who scored four touchdowns against the 49ers in a 2006 matchup, barely made a peep. He ran the ball 10 times for 31 yards, and had five catches for 7 yards.

O’Sullivan spent much of his day running for cover. The Saints sacked him six times, including two by Charles Grant.

“We knew he was a scrambler,” defensive end Will Smith said. “Coaches emphasized all week to keep staying after him and to keep finishing our rushes. I think ‘finishing’ was the word of the week.”

O’Sullivan has been sacked 19 times in four games. He said Sunday that he felt he was getting the ball out fast and making the right reads. Still, he took some hard shots and got up slowly after some sacks.

“He was on the ground way too much,” right tackle Barry Sims said. “It’s hard to make plays when you’re getting put to the ground like that.”

Linebacker Takeo Spikes made a nifty interception, his first since 2004. Drew Brees tried to get the ball to Devery Henderson, but Spikes jumped and corralled the ball with his right hand and then secured it as he fell to the turf.

The last time Spikes picked off a pass, he was with Buffalo and the opposing quarterback was Pittsburgh’s Tommy Maddox.

Brees moved past Jim Everett (60 touchdown passes) for fourth place on the Saints’ career list. Aaron Brooks is the franchise leader with 120.

Isaac Bruce’s touchdown catch was the 13th of his career against the Saints.

Spikes started in place of Jeff Ulbrich at left inside linebacker for the first time this season.

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